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The oppressive aura of the colossal dragon loomed ahead.
Shigure Segawa gritted his teeth slightly, and in an instant, he unleashed his spiritual pressure at full force.
"Boom!!"
The release of his destructive spiritual pressure sent an invisible wave of energy surging outward, directly pressing against the dragon's massive body.
The sheer force of it caused the dragon to plummet from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground!
Yet, even as it landed, the dragon propped itself up with its four claws, raising its head proudly as if refusing to bow to the earth.
Seeing this display, Shigure couldn't help but feel a tinge of excitement.
He had just noticed something peculiar: although this space was the inner world of his Zanpakutō, the dragon itself was composed of spiritual particles.
With that realization, he attempted to suppress it using his spiritual pressure—and to his surprise, it worked.
The destructive spiritual pressure was indeed formidable!
The dragon lifted its head and gazed at him, one eye open and the other half-closed. A thunderous voice erupted from its mouth.
"Souls who serve me… Why have you come to disturb my slumber?!"
The voice was deafening, shaking the very ground as though it were being sieved.
Hearing this, Shigure was momentarily taken aback.
This dragon actually believed itself to be the master and regarded Shigure as a mere servant's soul.
Standing tall, Shigure smiled faintly and said, "Aren't you being a bit arrogant? Under my spiritual pressure, you can't even manage to stay airborne."
Though maintaining his full-force spiritual pressure was taxing for Shigure, it was evident that the dragon was also struggling.
"Heh heh… You underestimate me…"
The dragon let out a thunderous laugh, and suddenly, a violent storm struck Shigure, with lightning crackling around him. The sheer killing intent emanating from the creature was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
Shigure's pupils contracted as he immediately held his breath and focused, withdrawing from the Zanpakutō meditation.
He was back, seated on the tatami mat of the kendo dojo.
"That was dangerous… If I didn't have control over myself…" Shigure exhaled deeply, relaxing his tense body.
Strictly speaking, this Zanpakutō wasn't entirely a manifestation of his soul.
It was a reward granted by the system, which meant he wasn't as bound by its will as others might be. Not only could he wield the destructive spiritual pressure, but he could also freely leave the Zanpakutō's inner world without being constrained by its will.
"It seems unlocking this Zanpakutō's true name won't be an easy task."
Even so, Shigure's expression remained resolute.
After all, the Zanpakutō was the most fundamental and essential weapon of a Soul Reaper. He had long prepared himself mentally for the challenges ahead.
It was at this moment that he suddenly felt a gaze fixed upon him from behind.
He spun around abruptly.
Standing before him was a man with a stalk of grass between his lips. His brown, slightly wavy, shoulder-length hair was tied into a ponytail, adorned with two decorative hairpins. He wore a pink haori embroidered with floral patterns over his shoulders, and his chin sported a hint of stubble.
The moment Shigure saw this figure, he immediately recognized him.
It was Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of the 7th Division of the Gotei 13.
As soon as Shunsui noticed Shigure had turned around, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Oh my, I've been spotted."
Shigure stood and bowed slightly in greeting. "Captain Kyōraku."
As a lower noble of the Seireitei, Shigure's status was far from comparable to the esteemed Captains, and proper etiquette was a necessity.
"Ah, the Segawa clan, next to the Ukitake family?" Shunsui raised an eyebrow.
Given his close relationship with Jūshirō Ukitake, Shunsui frequently visited the area and had taken note of the Segawa family's attire.
"Yes," Shigure nodded, then asked, "Is there something you need from me, Captain Kyōraku?"
Though he posed the question, Shigure already had a suspicion in his heart.
Shunsui waved his hand dismissively and chuckled. "Just taking a break from all the tiresome work. I came here to have a look around."
Shigure chuckled lightly. "Captain Kyōraku, you shouldn't joke. Since I began my Zanpakutō meditation, you've been here, haven't you?"
Shunsui froze for a moment, then spread his hands and shook his head with a smile. "As expected of a genius with Captain-level potential right from the entrance exam… To enter Zanpakutō meditation the first time you hold an Asauchi and still notice my presence."
"You flatter me, Captain Kyōraku," Shigure replied with a calm smile. "Please, just tell me your purpose directly."
Shunsui raised an eyebrow. The young man before him was proving to be far more challenging than he had anticipated.
Deception and rhetoric would only backfire. Honesty seemed to be the better approach.
With that thought, Shunsui smiled and said directly, "Segawa, would you mind showing me your spiritual pressure?"
Hearing this, Shigure's mind raced.
As expected, his guess had been correct.
Yesterday, Shunsui and the others had gone to North Rukongai to investigate his spiritual pressure.
However, now that Shigure was officially a student of the Shinō Academy, he had little to fear.
Shigure nodded. "No problem."
Raising his right hand, palm facing upward, he compressed the range of his spiritual pressure to his palm before releasing his energy.
A blue orb of spiritual energy materialized above Shigure's hand.
The moment Shunsui felt the spiritual pressure, a glimmer flashed in his eyes.
Shigure then withdrew his energy and lowered his hand. "I hope it wasn't too underwhelming."
Shunsui adjusted his hat and suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha, it seems we were worried over nothing! A genius like you, willing to join the academy and become a Soul Reaper, is truly a blessing. When you graduate, the seats of the Gotei 13… well, you might just have your pick."
Shunsui's words were heartfelt, accompanied by a genuine smile.
He had encountered many prodigies, from the likes of Kaien Shiba to the current Gin Ichimaru and Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
But none of them had achieved such mastery over their spiritual pressure and energy control before even formally entering the academy.
Shigure Segawa was a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
Hearing Shunsui's words, Shigure nodded slightly. "Since Captain Kyōraku has spoken so kindly, I'd like to trouble you with two requests."
"Oh?" Shunsui's interest was piqued, and he smiled. "Let's hear them."
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